A two-alarm fire ransacked two Vernon Blvd. apartments Friday afternoon in Long Island City, forcing two small businesses to close and ruining a 5-year-old girl’s birthday party, according to witnesses.
The fire was discovered at about 1:30 p.m. No civilians were injured, but witnesses said some firefighters left the scene and appeared to be suffering from smoke inhalation.
Fire officials could not immediately confirm that there were injuries to firefighters.
Rabbi Zev Wineberg and his wife, Rivka, were throwing a birthday bash for their daughter, Mushka, and eight of her young friends around 1:30 p.m. at Chabad of Long Island City-Astoria, the rabbi’s rented storefront synagogue and home, which sits above the New City Restaurant, a Chinese food business located at 47-31 Vernon Blvd.
Esther Lebovic, the rabbi’s sister-in-law, said she and the family were setting up for the party when they started smelling smoke.
“We smelled smoke for a while and we thought it was coming from the oven because we were cooking, but then we opened the oven and there was no smoke inside and we heard a guy outside screaming, ‘It’s coming from the next house!’” Lebovic said, standing on the sidewalk with friends and children who attended the party.
The family quickly escorted the children from the building and called 911 and later called the children’s parents and some family friends, Lebovic said. Friends of the Winebergs came to the scene along with firemen to help, Lebovic said.
“When we entered our apartment, we were very shocked by what we saw,” Rabbi Wineberg wrote in a letter to his community. “It is a surreal experience to leave a complete, neat home and return 3 hours later to absolute destruction.”
“Baruch Hashem, (Thank G-d) we are all healthy, safe and physically unharmed.”
Wineberg also thanked his community for their support and said scheduled Chabad classes will resume at other locations to be announced.
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the rebbe said that birthdays are an occasion for elevation. take this fire and make it into a burning flame for Yiddishkite. you are so young for such a task, but Hashem must know you are worthy and able. All is good…… even if we feel differently at the time
ahhhhhhhh B.H.,Glad you are all safe.. thinking of you all the time.
hello i am commenting on your article referring to the shliach who had a fire i would like to let you know that regency quality dry cleaners is a good friend of the wienbergs (sadly over heard conversation) and he was asked if he can clean the clothes from the fire! so the cleaners gladly took this opportunity to help a jew in need he kindly told the family that he can do it for them but he can “ONLY” give them a 40% discount!
i think this is a true kidush hashem
………….’vet’, ‘vert’; – Abi Reich! : )
zol es m’kuyem ver’n teikef umiyad mamosh!
Its ‘vert’ men reich, not ‘vet’